Service vs. Hearing the Word
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The well-known story of Mary and Martha is about the proper balance between hearing the Word of God in contemplative worship vs active service for the Lord. It’s here for a reason - and that reason isn’t because it occurs chronologically after the previous story. Notice that Luke is quite vague about when and where. “it happened as they went.” so they were traveling. Jesus did that during his whole ministry. “a certain village” John informs us that this was Bethany, a town not far from Jerusalem. Thus, this story actually happened either before on a separate trip to Jerusalem, or later. But it is put here because it fits the theme that Luke wants us to follow. What theme is that?
First of all, the idea of service is bound up in the idea of loving your neighbor. The Good Samaritan served the helpless injured man. He showed he loved his neighbor by serving him. Second, Jesus has already taught us to prioritize what Jesus himself is teaching about, back in v.21-22. The disciples are uniquely blessed because they have heard and seen what prophets and kings in other ages could not hear or see - that is, they get to here and see Jesus’ offer of the Kingdom of God, and his teaching about it.
Thus Luke has already taught that we ought to love hearing the Word of God preached, and that we ought also to serve our neighbor selflessly. Our story is about prioritizing between the two.
I. It is Right to Serve
I. It is Right to Serve
The teaching of Scripture makes it clear that there is nothing wrong with serving others; indeed, it is part of what God expects of us. This is essential theological background.
The Biblical Word is διακονία related to our English Word Deacon.
When Luke talks about διακονία he frequently, though not always, means table service. And in fact Jesus himself exalts the very kind of service that Martha is doing Luke 22:26-27. And John tells us that during that same Last Supper Jesus served the disciples by washing their feet.
But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
2. Martha welcomes Jesus - that is, she exercises hospitality. Being hospitable - that is, being always ready to care for travelers in your home when they need it - is also something expected of Christians. 1 Pet 4:9; Heb 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
3. This kind of service is the requirement for Widows to receive church support 1 Tim 5:9-10
Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
II. Service can distract
II. Service can distract
Martha, it should be noted, does have quite a large responsibility.
Jesus and his disciples are 13 men who have been walking all day.
Since it’s not possible to call ahead, it is likely Jesus couldn’t alert Martha to the fact that he was coming.
That being said, Martha is obviously trying to do too much. Luke says she is “distracted”. We might wish a few more details, but the point is clear - she is trying too hard to make everything perfect. She is “over-responsible” by trying to do more than is necessary.
A. Over-Responsibility results in feeling abandoned by God
A. Over-Responsibility results in feeling abandoned by God
The feeling that God doesn’t care isn’t always due to over-responsibility. The Psalms are full of times when the psalmists felt abandoned.
Sometimes we feel forsaken, but really it’s only God’s chastening hand Isa 49:14
But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.”
Sometimes we feel forsaken because of trials Psalm 22:2
O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
But in this case, Martha feels forsaken by Jesus [God], not because he doesn’t care, not because she is doing anything wrong, and not because she is enduring some kind of trial. It’s because she has taken on more responsibility than she ought to have taken. Thus, because she has taken on too much, she feels overwhelmed; because Jesus is clearly not doing anything to solve her feeling of being overwhelmed, she feels pressured and angry.
B. Over-Responsibility results in accusing others
B. Over-Responsibility results in accusing others
Now the core of the problem is that Martha is trying to be the perfect host, which has had the unintentional effect of neglecting what she ought to be doing - listening and learning from the Son of God.
But because she is so focused on these responsibilities when Mary has chosen to listen, she gradually begins to be resentful of her sister. She has not-so-subtlety accused her sister of being lazy, when in fact Mary just wanted to listen and learn from Jesus.
I have no doubt that Martha does in fact love her sister; she doesn’t want to hurt Mary; still, what she implies about Mary is absolutely a false and hurtful accusation.
C. Over-responsibility results in Worry
C. Over-responsibility results in Worry
Jesus’ reply to Martha shows his care about her. It’s a gentle “Martha, Martha.”
Jesus’ reply frames her actions in a way she surely didn’t think of them. He points out that she is worried about many unimportant things. Of course, if she thought they were unimportant she wouldn’t worry about them.
Asking the over-responsible to pray and give it over to God isn’t going to work. Instead, they need to pray that God will help them re-evaluate their priorities so that they will clearly see what is trivial and what is necessary.
III. Hearing the Lord is necessary
III. Hearing the Lord is necessary
What Mary is doing is being a disciple, learning from Jesus Acts 22:3
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
In Jesus’ day, Jesus acceptance of Mary as a disciple would have been noteworthy. I found a debate in the Mishnah about whether Women should learn the Torah or not. Even in ancient Israel, not everyone was a raging misogynist;
Rabbi Eliezer (AD 80-120) “ If any man gives his daughter a knowledge of the law it is as though he taught her lechery.” (M.Sotah 3:4)
However, the same passage also quotes a different Rabbi who points out that the law gives commands to women; therefore women also need to know the law. He focuses on a specific and rather obscure ritual in the Torah, but despite this, it is actually sound exegetical reasoning that applies to any command of Scripture directed toward women.
The fact that Jesus prioritizes hearing his own teaching, rather than the law, implies that he considers listening to him to be equal to the law - which it is, since while the law was also given by God, Jesus has the most up-to-date revelation.
Jesus gently recontextualizes Martha’s priorities. Mary has “Chosen that good part.” In other words, the things that so worry and both Martha are simply not necessary. Martha doesn’t need to have help; she needs to realize that she has swapped what is good for what is best.
IV. Why is it more important?
IV. Why is it more important?
Because it is how you become conformed to the image of Christ instead of the World Rom 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Because the reading of the Word of God is the secret to succeeding in the service of the Lord Josh 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Because the preaching of the Word of God causes growth in Christ when mixed with faith Col 1:28
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Application
Application
1. The purpose of deacons is to allow the prioritization of the preaching and hearing of the Word of God, while still making sure service gets done Acts 6:2-4
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
2. I’ve known Christians who get caught up in doing a good work, to the point they neglect the hearing of the Word of God by coming to church. Such Christians are falling into Martha’s error. It is good to serve, but not at the expense of hearing the Word of God.
3. That’s why it’s good to have several people to man the nursery, so our nursery workers also get to hear the Word of God.